Saturday, June 28, 2008

Son, daughter-in-law, and my 2 granddaughters (6 months and 2 yrs) are visitin. :D So if I don't get the epilogue up tomorrow, I'll do it on Monday. Everyone have a great weekend. I know I'm going to enjoy my babies as much as possible.

Part 42

Ryan jerked the cover up and quickly positioned himself so he could see inside the box, yet out of direct fire. His gun’s sight found its target.

“Rob!”

“Shoulda known you’d play the hero, bro,” Rob sneered.

“Are you all right, Zack?” He couldn’t see higher than his lover’s waist.

“Peachy.” His voice strained.

Ryan’s heart swelled with pride. Zack was being brave, but how would this episode affect his mental progress of getting past what Rob had done to him previously?

“Mind if I drop in?”

“Of course I mind. You are interrupting an intimate moment between Zack and I.” Rob shifted his position and Ryan could see that the waist of Zack’s pants were undone and his shirt was pushed up. Still Ryan couldn’t see his head.

“Too bad. This can only happen two ways. I come down and we try to figure this out.” He paused and swallowed. “Or I shoot you here and now.”

Rob snorted as if unconcerned. “I dare ya.”

Shit. Ryan’s pulse raced and sweat slipped down his face. His finger tightened on the trigger, but he couldn’t do it. Not like this.

“Fuck me running.”

Rob laughed. “No guts. I knew you didn’t have it in you.”

Ryan ignored him. “Coming down.” He holstered his gun and slowly lowered his body into the elevator, hoping like hell Rob wouldn’t take a cheap shot. Luck was on his side.

He moved to the opposite corner of where Rob and Zack crouched. Relief flooded him as he saw that Zack wasn’t visibly harmed. Tears streaked his cheeks and fear swamped his eyes. Anger surged.

Rob stopped Ryan’s movement when he went to reach for his gun again. “Don’t do it.” The gun now pointed at him. Ryan lifted his hands, palms out.

“You’ve really dug yourself a deep hole, Rob.”

A variety of emotions slipped across his features. “It’s not my fault.”

Ryan sighed. “It’s never your fault.”

“Don’t pity me. Never! Do you understand?”

Ryan ground his teeth. Don’t get him mad, he reminded himself.

“You’ve never understood.” Rob shook his head and winced. “You had it all.”

“We’re twins. We had the same stuff.”

“No, you’re wrong. You’re the favorite. The good one. Never does anything wrong.”

I bit back another sigh. It’s the same old story. After all these years, he’s dragging up all this old garbage. It was a bunch of bullshit and he knew it. He just never accepted responsibility for his wrong-doing. It seems as if he never would.

“Listen. Let’s just finish this ride and get off on the next floor. I’m sure Dad will find a way to help.” Ryan suggested.

Rob jumped up, finally releasing his hold on Zack, and slapped the elevator wall. “Don’t you get it? There’s nothing anyone can do to help. And there’s no leaving this elevator. At least in the same condition as when we entered.”

Crap. Rob intended to take his life…and ours. That’s the only way out of this mess. Dying, he wouldn’t have to face a judge or jury. And he planned on taking Zack with him, to keep him from being with me.

“I can’t let you do this.”

Rob adjusted the barrel of the gun so it was aimed at Ryan’s head. “You don’t have a choice.”

Ryan tensed, expecting the explosion of gunfire, his muscles readying to surge forward, when Rob grunted and went down.

Ryan moved to intercept, but Rob and Zack were wrestling. Limbs entwined as they fought to overpower the other. He pulled his gun. If he could wound Rob, that would stop or at least slow him down. However, there wasn’t a shot. He couldn’t risk hurting Zack also.

A gunshot went off, temporarily deafening Ryan. The two men on the floor went slack. Panic caused Ryan’s lungs to constrict and bile rose in his throat. He couldn’t breath. Blood began to pool on the floor. Who was hit? Zack or Rob?

“Zack?” He stepped closer, his attention on Rob.

“Ryan.” It was said like a sigh, tinged with grief and fatigue.

Moving to kneel next to Zack, Ryan could now see that it was Rob who was bleeding. “You okay?” He ran his hands over Zack’s body, looking for wounds.

“Jesus. I don’t think I’ll ever be okay.” Zack groaned, but moved to sit up.

Ryan quickly brushed the gun from Rob’s hand before stripping off his shirt. He rolled Rob onto his back and pressed the shirt to the gunshot wound. Rob winced, opened his eyes slightly. His breath was choppy and raspy.

“Ry…”

“Don’t talk,” he told his brother. “Zack, get the elevator going,” he demanded. “Now!” He screamed when his lover hesitated. It didn’t matter that Rob had tried to kill him or Zack. This was his brother. His twin.

“Loved him.” Ryan sputtered, blood now leaking from the corner of his mouth.

“I know. I know.” Tears were blurring his vision. Damn, it couldn’t end like this. Rob needed to be punished for his wrong doings. He needed help. But he didn’t deserve to be taken. Not yet. That’s when Ryan realized he still had hope that there was good inside his brother. Deep inside, but perhaps it could have been motivated to emerge.

“Take care…Zack.”

The elevator doors slid open and a team of security guards, a couple of detectives, and the sheriff were waiting. Weapons drawn.”Get a doctor. Hurry.” Ryan looked down at Rob. His eyes had closed and his breath slowed. “Please.” A tear fell on Rob’s cheek. He didn’t flinch. Only drew in his last breath.

Friday, June 27, 2008

I meant to have this posted earlier, but...well, life is unpredictable. I've had company come and go all week and still more this weekend *sigh* But I'll post this part, another tomorrow, then the very ending on Sunday (Monday the latest if my granddaughters don't leave me with enough energy - lol)

Part 41

This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening. Zack chanted the words over and over. He even closed his eyes, counted to five, but he was still in the elevator, alarm shrilling, and Rob crouching next to him. Silently he screamed out to Ryan.

Zack hated himself for flinching when Rob reached out and touched his hair. Hated how his body trembled and fear clouded his vision and judgment. He’d sworn to never again be scared of Rob. To let this fright take over and rule his actions. Only he found it was easier said than done.

“You were stupid to think you could escape me.” Rob leaned in, his mouth just inches from Zack’s ear. “You were mine since the first night we met. I swore to always have you.”

Zack swallowed the lump of fear clogging his throat. “You don’t own me, Rob. You had me and abused me. Now it’s time to let go and pay for your actions.” Jesus, where had that come from? He was scared as shit, yet those words that had been on his tongue since Rob almost killed him finally came to life.

Rob’s fingers curled cruelly in Zack’s hair and gave it a yank so he whimpered with pain. He smiled wickedly and Zack saw an evil gleam in his ex-lover’s eyes.

“Grown a set of balls, huh? Guess you had to in order to be with my brother,” he sneered with disgust. “It’s alright. You’ll be eating those balls soon enough and back to being my pussy.” Rob licked the side of Zack’s face while nearly jerking the clump of hair from his head.

****As soon as the elevator doors shut, Ryan raced down the hall. “Shit,” he cursed when he pressed the up button and the door didn’t open. He took a step back. Rage, fear, and guilt swept through him. The light for the next floor lit.

“What’s above us? What units?” he demanded of a security guard that was nearby.

“Surgical ICA. Maturnity Ward. Cardiac Stepdown Unit.” The guard rambled off several more units. None sounded as if they were good hiding places for Rob.

The light lit the next floor. The roof?

“Can he get to the roof from the top floor?” He didn’t take his eye from the lighted number.

“Yeah. Using the stairs.”

The light vanished and he waited for the next to light before he made a run for the stairwell. And he waited. Distantly and muffled, he could hear the ringing of an alarm.

“What happened?” Now there were several security guards around him and another cop from the force. Charlie was nowhere to be seen.

“Looks like he stopped the car.” The security guard farthest from Ryan answered.

“Can we manually override it?” Damn. All sorts of scenarios flashed in his mind. Was Zack all right? What was Rob doing to him? His brother’s eyes were wide and wild looking. He was out of his sane mind, but then, it was easy to incite Rob.

The guard next to him shook his head. “Not easily. It will take time. These things are old. The upgrade was supposed to happen later this year.”

“Damn.” Ryan’s eyes closed, his mind going a hundred miles a minute. Think. He’d been a cop in a big city. What had he learned? “Surely there’s a hatch at the top, right?”

This time Ryan looked at the guy’s nametag. Dewler. He nodded.

“All right. I need some to open the doors with and a rope. We don’t have time.” He started for the stairs. He had to pass by Maria’s room. The door was closed. Heard nothing. Was she all right? He wanted so badly to stop and look in, but Zack’s life could possibly be at stake. So he kept walking.

****It took twenty minutes, but Ryan was repelling down the elevator shaft. Image after horrific image of what Rob was doing to Zack flashed in his mind. He couldn’t stop them. Though he and his brother haven’t been close since they were small, he knew exactly what Rob was capable. He’d been the target of his anger to many times. And each time he blamed it on something or someone else. All to protect Rob. And look where that got him…and Zack.

Careful not to alert Rob of his presence, Ryan stepped lightly onto the top of the elevator. The maintenance man had tried his best to fill him in on what he’d encounter. It was an old piece of machinery so he was careful of the ropes, wires, and cables. Last thing he wanted to do was plunge down seven stories on top of this deathtrap. He pulled the flashlight from his belt and turned it on, finding the hatch easily. Bending down, he placed his ear to it.

Nothing. The shaft rumbled too loudly of the machinery though the alarm had been shut off.

Ryan’s heart raced. His stomach clenched. Had he taken too long? What if Rob had already killed Zack and then himself? Ryan wouldn’t put it past his twin to gain whatever he desired. Fucking bastard.He took a deep breath to calm his nerves. He needed steady hands and his mind in the right place for this. With his hand on the handle of the cover, Ryan glanced up to see several darkened figures in the elevator doorway. Watching. Waiting. It’s now or never.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaways. It's been a good day too (besides this storm we are having now).

My chat at The_Sierra_Club went great. Had fun chatting with all those who stopped by.But I know why you are here. You are wanting to know who won, right?

Well, another congrats to Caffey for being my giveaway winner at my chat *woot*

Let's see the winner for:

CHANCE ONE -- for a copy of Fallen AngelsTami Cullen

CHANCE TWO -- for a $15 Loose-Id gift certificateI'm going to splurge on this one. I had only two people send the answers and didn't want to choose between them, so they are both winners and will each get a gift certificateRobin JohnsonMindy (birdsooong)

CHANCE THREE -- for my print book, LasciviousThe winner had to be a member of my newsletter group and that is...arefel1962

Thanks again for your interest and participation.Now, it's time to get back to work and get more books written :)

Friday, June 20, 2008

I know it's been a while since I've posted. I've been in and out of town as my family has decided upon doing some small impromptu mini vacations. They've been great, but tiring. It's been nice to get out of the house, yet again, I'm behind on EVERYTHING! Including housework *ugh* So I've been slack on posting on the blog.

Those of you reading Second Chances will be happy to know that it will be completed and posted next week. Yes, you heard me right. Thanks to all those who've stayed with me *sigh* It turned out longer and bigger than I anticipated. Oh, and let's not mention that I've rewritte the ending about three times :s

Okay, as you all know, Fallen Angels and Lascivious are both available. Make sure you check them out. :)

I have a chat tomorrow at The_Sierra_Club (Sierra Dafoe's group) from 10-2 EST since I'm her June Featured Author. Stop by and say hi. I'll be doing a giveaway during that time.

Speaking of giving away things, I have one going on. The winners will be posted during my chat tomorrow. Details below...

You’ll have not one, but three chances to win.(Please read each opportunity carefully)

CHANCE ONE – One name will be drawn from those who send the correct answerPrize: A copy of my latest M/M e-book, Fallen Angels

Answer this question from Dragon Riders 1: Bonded Hearts - Where was Nick originally from?Answer can be found in the excerpt on my website (click the Read It link on the Book List page) www.martyrayne.com

CHANCE TWO – One name will be drawn from those who send the correct answerPrize: A $15 gift certificate from Loose-Id

This is for those who have already purchased Fallen Angels. (Thanks a lot by the way)Send me a list of the other members of the Fallen Angels.(Hint: Chapter 23 has the answer. There are 6 others besides Mammon and Adam)

CHANCE THREE- One member’s name will be drawnPrize: A copy of my first print book, Lascivious

This prize will be given to a member of my newsletter group. So make sure you’re a member before Saturday, June 21st.

Send entries for Chance one and two to marty@martyrayne.com (marty AT martyrayne DOT com)Deadline is June 21st, 1pm EST

Journey to the Dark Side: Serial killer Dante is targeting submissive males who frequent a fetish club, The Dark Side. Detective Monica Street is determined to end the killer's reign on the community and needs help. Enter sexy FBI Agent Jared Keller, who has the looks and ability Monica is looking for.And what's the best way to catch this killer? Draw him out by playing in the world of domination and submission. Only alpha-male Jared gets more than he bargains for as he’s engulfed by Mistress Monica, whippings, and the trappings of a psychotic serial killer.

Testing Passion: Janet O'Neal enjoys her part-time job with Pandora's Box. She sets her own schedule, it's never boring, and at times, very exhilarating. Yes, being a sex toy tester can be stimulating. But when her boyfriend dumps her, Janet hates the limitations that are forced upon the way she performs her job.Damien Richards seeks out his best tester. With a deadline looming, there is no one he trusts more than Janet and her studious testing skills. Of course, he has another motive when he knocks on Janet's door asking for her help. Being the owner of Pandora's Box, he's frightened that he's losing his best employee, the woman who has him intrigued and fascinated by the passion filling her reports. Can Damien talk Janet into spending a weekend with him working, testing passion, along with the toys? Will Janet welcome the stranger into her most secret fantasies?

Be resolved and the thing is done. ~ Chinese Proverb (Make a commitment and follow it through)

Saturday, June 07, 2008

I know many places are just getting nice, warm weather. Here in FL...yeah, it's already summer temperatures. Hot, humid, and sometimes miserable. So what did I do today? Clean!!! Shortly after waking this morning, I headed out to our storage room (a room connected to our carport) and decided to clean it all out. Then I went to the shed (Uh, yeah, it's a building as big as a house and we share it with the neighbors in our duplex). I'll admit that I'm a pack rack, but today, I got rid of at least 10 big trash bags of stuff. Then I came inside, cooled down, watched a movie with hubby (One Missed Call is a strange movie) and cleaned out some more things here and there around the house. And I'm still restless and itching to clean more *lol*

Truly, I don't know what's up. No, I'm not pregnant. I guess my sub-conscious knows that I've got to get ready, make room, and set up everything my children need for their schooling come August since I'm enrolling them into a virtual school instead of them heading off to Middle School. A little here, a little there all summer long will be perfect.

Anyway, here's an interesting tattoo I found...on a pretty nice back too ;)

Thursday, June 05, 2008

It's sunny and way too hot here already in Florida. Hurricane season has officially begun. The prediction is to have several hurricanes hit the state. Guess we'll just have to wait and see. I hope it's not at the beginning of Aug as I've scheduled a Disney Cruise for that time :D

Part 40

Rob shook his head. “No. That would be too easy. I won’t let you escape from me this time.” His gaze darted around the room.

Zack fought to control the trembling of his body. He didn’t have time for terror. He couldn’t let Maria get hurt. She had a baby to give life to.

“We know you are in there, Rob.” Shit, that was Ryan. His voice came from the other side of the door and Zack didn’t like how jumpy Rob appeared when his brother had spoken. Being skittish while holding a gun was never a good idea.

“Fuck you, Ryan. Go back home to Daddy. You were always his favorite.” Rob paced the length of the room, his fingers twitching around the gun in his right hand. He was really making Zack nervous.

“This is only causing you more problems, Rob.” Charlie. Damn it. Zack was sure his friend was going bonkers since Maria was in here.

“This doesn’t concern you. Get the hell out of here.”

“You’ve got my wife in there. The moment you entered the room, you drug me into your business.” Charlie’s anger resonated in every word.

Rob turned his attention to Maria, his fingers still twitching. Zack’s blood chilled.

“Taking her out of the picture won’t help anything,” he said.

“Perhaps not, but satisfying after all the crappy ideas she put in your head about me.”

Maria’s head shook and her mouth opened to speak, but Zack beat her to it. “Those were my thoughts, not hers.”

“Let me in, Rob. We’ll talk,” Ryan tried again.

“Like hell,” Rob muttered, walking to Zack and staring down at him.

Their gazes locked and Zack suppressed the shiver snaking down his spine. Those cold eyes were filled with nothing but rage and hatred. How had he ever thought they could hold any other emotion? He’d been a fool.

“Zack,” Maria gasped. His gaze left Rob’s and jerked to the hospital bed. She was clutching her stomach and pain etched her face. Fuck. Something was wrong. She needed medical attention…now!

“She needs a doctor. Take me, let’s get out of here and work this all out.”Maria chose that moment to let out a painful moan.

Rob hesitated a moment, glancing around the room. There was no escape but through the one door. He grabbed Zack by the collar and yanked him up. “Get up.”

Zack stumbled and fell toward Rob. He hated having that man’s hands on him, but if not, he would have wound up face first on the hard floor.

Rob shoved Zack in front of him, on hand on his bound wrists, the other held the gun to Zack’s neck. “We’re coming out,” he shouted as he pushed Zack forward. “Kick it aside.”

Zack did as he was told. Using his foot, he swiftly removed the chair that held the door closed. “I can’t open it.”

Rob’s grip on his wrists tightened painfully. “Don’t talk to me like I’m an idiot.” Keeping the gun pressed to Zack’s neck, Rob released his grip on the wrists and leaned forward to grasp the door handle. “Everyone away from the door. I don’t want to see anyone within fifty feet of here when I open it.”

Zack could hear some talk and the sound of footprints growing fainter. They were leaving the area of the room. This surprised Zack. He thought they would try negotiating more. But then, he was glad they weren’t messing around since Maria really needed a doctor’s attention.

Rob pulled the door open. “Go.”

With one last look at Maria, Zack walked out of the room and into an empty hall. Rob was right behind him, using his body as a shield. They inched along the wall and Zack realized that the hall wasn’t as deserted as he thought. Here and there, he saw police and security officers. He could only hope they didn’t do something to set Rob off.

“Maria needs help. Get her a doctor.” Zack yelled out. The barrel of the gun pressed harder to his neck, but Rob stayed calm.

No one moved. Were they afraid of what Rob might do?

“Jesus, Rob. Let them get her help.” If she lost the baby because of the stress she’d been under, Zack would never forgive himself. Hope flared when Rob stopped their movement. Zack tried again. “Please.” It didn’t take much effort to make the word a plea.

“Get the doctor in there,” Rob yelled down the hall where Zack could see a glimpse of Ryan and Charlie. “But if anyone else approaches, he’s dead.”

There was some excitement down there, but they were too far away to hear exactly what was being said. Rob nudged him and they started back down the hall toward the elevator. Zack didn’t dare attempt to get more from Rob. As long as Maria got help and the others weren’t harmed. He could live with that. Or die with that.

“You can’t get far, Rob.” Ryan said loudly from the other end of the hall just as Rob pressed the elevator button.

Rob didn’t respond. The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. It was empty.

“Don’t ignore me!”

Zack was shoved into the elevator, stumbled, and slammed into the back wall. Rob followed. As the doors closed, he finally spoke. “He’s mine.”

The deadpan tone of Rob’s statement made Zack trembled. His body slid down the wall until he was huddled into the corner. Rob pushed the button for the top floor. The elevator jerked slightly before rising up. Before it could reach the top floor, he slammed his hand on the emergency button. Stopping it completely.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

I'm very excited that my latest M/M book has been released at Loose-Id. It became available yesterday and I should have done a little giveaway, but I'm going to wait until this weekend, as the release date fell on the last day of school *whew* and I've been swamped with all sorts of stuff at the last minute. So, today, I'm promoting Falen Angels, tomorrow I'll post another part to Second Chances, and Friday I'll do a giveaway for the weekend.

I'm debating on a prize. I've some some goodies put away, like windchimes and such that I can create a little package or should I give away a free book? What do you think?